The first Mayo & District Motorsport Club Autocross of 2014 took place on Sunday in Harrington’s Quarry, Kilkelly with a capacity entry for the first time in a number of years.
Derek Deane from Williamstown won the event, continuing his amazing record on his home event, and proving that’s it’s the man and not the machine as his one week old JCR Kart made its debut on the loose surface track. Second home, Martin Tynan from Clones was the early leader, making use of the abolition of the 4 Wheel Drive Penalty for 2014 in his Mitsubishi Evo, but in the end he had to settle for second behind Deane. There were three members of the Deane family in the top 4, as Derek’s brothers Mervyn and Adrian were third and fourth respectively in their JB buggies.
Local honours went to James McGreal from Foxford who won class 4 for 4WD cars and finished fifth overall. Other locals to fare well were Colin Loughney from Hollymount who came home second in class 3 in his Ford Escort. Foxford’s Alan Moran put in a blindingly quick last run in a Peugeot 206 to claim second in the highly competitive class 2 and gain valuable Mayo Young Driver Championship Points. David Carney from Westport fresh from a podium on the last round of the British Rally Championship won the Mayo & District Club Award using the event to get further seat time in his Citroen DS3-R3T. Club stalwart Padraic Roche was fourth in Class 3 while Club Chairman Matthew Murphy was sixth in class 2. Sean McHugh from Bekan was seventh in class 4 in his Group A like sounding Subaru Impreza. Last year’s Mayo Young Driver’s Champion Noel Murphy from Shrule began the defence of his title with a fourth place finish in class 2. David Jordan from Westport finished seventh in that class in his Corolla, with Alan McGuire also from Westport in ninth in a Peugeot 205. Liam and Joe Healy from Achill double drove their Civic and had a great battle with Liam just coming out on top. David Healy from Skreen in his Primera was next up in class 2, with John P Ryan from Headford just behind in a Honda Civic.
Shauna McEveney from Castlebar won the ladies award in the family Corolla with her father Pat also finishing well in class 2. Her brother Patrick joined Lorcan Moore from Crossmolina on their first day competing at Autocross level. Both of whom are young drivers who are starting off their Motorsport careers at the correct level, taking part in the Mayo & District Motorsport Clubs -Young Drivers Support Scheme, learning proper car control in a controlled environment. Lorcan, in particular, had a fantastic first day behind the wheel, managing to win the junior class in his Citroen Saxo. Also competing in the junior class for 16-18 year olds was young Colm Ronan from Bekan, who picked up third in the class.
Special mention must go to new Clerk of the Course Cathal Doyle who ran a flawless event. The next round takes place on Sunday June 8th.
In other motorsport news from the weekend, Killian Duffy finished fifth in WRC2 Argentina, after damaging the steering on Day 1 and re-joining under Rally 2 rules for remainder of the event. It was a good result for him and driver Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari on what was a tough challenging event under very difficult conditions.
Closer to home Aidan Gannon from Tubbercurry navigated Anthony O Brien to a Class victory and excellent 14th overall on the Carlow Stages Rally, while Sean Hynes from Foxford, competing in Formula Sheane at Bishopscourt claimed fifth in Race 1 but failed to finish race 2 after a coming together with another racing car while battling for positions.